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VICTORIA FALLS

One of the largest sheets of falling water in the world, with a width of 1 708metres and height of 108metres. Feverishly known as THE SMOKE THAT THUNDERS, Victoria Falls is the adventure capital of Africa with variable animals, activities and fantastic weather. Activities on offer include bungee jumping, white water rafting, horse safaris, tiger fishing, game viewing and elephant rides.Victoria Falls waterfall is on the Zambezi River, bordering Zambia and Zimbabwe in Africa. One can view the Falls mostly from the Zimbabwean side. There are plenty of tourist attractions for the visitor especially on the Zambezi River such as white water rafting and helicopter flips over the falls.

HWANGE NATIONAL PARK

Named after a local Nhanzwa chief, Hwange National Park is the largest park in Zimbabwe occupying roughly 14 650 square kilometres in the northwest corner of the country to the south of and not far from the Mighty Victoria Falls. It is usually possible between May and October, to enter the Park by any designated access road and to drive to any of the camps. During the wet season though, advice should be sought as to the best routes. At the visitor reception at each camp, advice on the many game viewing drives of the 480 kilometres of the Park's road may also be obtained. Hwange boasts a tremendous selection of wildlife with over 100species of mammals and nearly 400 bird species recorded. The elephants of Hwange are world famous and the Park's elephant population is one of the largest in the world. The Park has three distinctive Camps and administrative offices at Robins, Sinamatella and the major one at Main Camp. The Park has accommodation facilities including self catering lodges, cottages and chalets, a camping and caravan site, restaurant and grocery store. Lodges in Hwange National Park are units with one or two bedrooms, bathroom, fully equipped kitchen and verandah. Cottages have a centrally located thatched, open dining area with refrigerators available for communal use. Cooking facilities are communal, with electric hot plates provided. Normally no cutlery or crockery is provided. Chalets are units with one or two bedrooms and a verandah.l Cooking facilities are available on wood or charcoal braais. Electric refrigerator and sink are provided in each unit. Ablution and toilet facilities are provided in a communal block.

GONAREZHOU NATIONAL PARK

Gonarezhou National Park is situated in the south eastern lowveld of Zimbabwe and covers more than 5 000 square kilometres. " Gonarezhou" means "Place of many Elephants". The Park includes more than 500 bird species, 34 frog species, 49 fish species, 147 mammal species and at least 116 reptile species. The Chilojo Cliffs are one of the most prominent and enduring natural features of the Gonarezhou National Park. They are magnificent Cretaceous coarse sandstone cliffs that are a result of seasons of erosion. The cliffs are two-fold, with the lower and upper almost vertical sections separated from each other by a sloping terrace up to 1640 feet wide. This terrace is scored by gullies which cut through the lower cliff to the Runde River bed, giving access to the water for elephants and other animals.

MATOBO NATIONAL PARK

The Matobo National Park forms the core of the Matobo or Matopos Hills, an area of granite kopjes and wooded valleys commencing some 35 kilometres south of Bulawayo along the Kezi/Maphisa road. Matobo covers an area of 43 200 hectares. The magnificent, rugged terrain of the park is a hikers paradise and the diversity of the vegetation supports a wide range of wildlife such as giraffe, zebra, sable, impala and predators such as leopard , cheetah, wildcat and others. One of the many highlights for many visitors is the sighting of one or more of the endangered rhino. Matobo National Park possesses one of the highest concentrations of white and black rhinoceros in the world and therefore provides the perfect opportunity to view and photograph these rare creatures. Within the park are numerous sites which were once occupied by the San hunter-gatherers. The paintings at Nswatugi Cave are perhaps some of the finest in Zimbabwe and contain beautiful renditions of giraffe, eland and kudu.

WHAT ARE VELD FIRES?

These are blazes that get out of control and become wild, and in the process destroy extensive tracts of forests, grasslands, animals, people and their properties.Fire, as part of natural process has a positive role in the vegetation structure and composition, and helps recycle nutrients contained in old and dead trees. There is, however, concern that the frequency, extent and pattern of burning are increasing due to human activities.

It is a fact that the damage from these fires has grown to outweigh the benefits of fire on the ecosystem.

Frequent burning has implication on carbon stocks and emissions, wildlife habitat, human health and life as well as livelihoods.Statutory Instrument 7 of 2007 as read with Environmental Management Act (CAP 20:27), no person is allowed to light a fire outside residential and commercial premises during the period July 31 to October 31 of each year.

The causes of Veld Fires

THE CAUSES OF VELD FIRES

There are several factors that cause veld fires but most are human ignitions resulting from:Reckless disposal of lit cigarette stubs

Smoking out of bees for honey harvesting

Lighting fires at road servitude while waiting for early morning buses

Land clearing

Hunting

Deliberate lighting of fires/arson

Children playing with matches

Improper household ash disposal

Effects of Veld Fires

EFFECTS OF VELD FIRES

Veld fires lead to severe environmental degradation. More specifically, veld fires reduce land cover thus exposing the land to agents of accelerated soil erosion, changes in the hydrological cycle, increase in overland flow or surface run off and modifications in various ecological processes.

Soil erosion leads to the siltation of rivers and dams, thus reducing their water carrying capacity. This is likely to induce floods in low lying areas.Veld fires destroy plantations, crops and pastures. In Zimbabwe, it is now commonly agreed that veld fires are a single significant threat to national economic recovery plans as they are destroying not only pastures necessary for the restocking exercise, but they are also destroying foreign currency generation plantations.Food security may be compromised as the last few years have seen fires burning wheat farms, maize fields among other valuables.

How do I know that a fire might occur?

It is normally your dry season. You experience very hot conditions. There is a lot of potential fuel (e.g. dry leaves, wood, dead plants and grass). You can clearly see long dry grass and plants. There are moderate to strong winds present.Veld fire trends

A total of 347 356 hectares has been cumulatively burnt to date, while during the same period in 2011 about 209 000ha was burnt.

Veld fires and stakeholdersEach person or institution has a role to play in the fight against veld fires and the following can be of importance to prevent veld fires, destruction of the environment as well as loss of life and property.

School childrenIn the event that schoolchildren come across fire: Quickly report the incident to any nearby adult person. Do not attempt to cross over fire, crossing over fire may result in fatalities. Do not try to extinguish a veld fire on your own. Move away from the veld fire and never ever try to climb trees in the direction of a veld fire.

Bus passengers Travelling can at times be done during odd hours when the weather is very cold especially in the rural areas. These conditions make passengers make a fire at the bus stop for warmth. Therefore, before leaving make sure you completely extinguish the fire. Make sure all the glowing splints and burning coal are completely extinguished using water.Put on warm clothes because history has shown that most road fires are left unattended.

Bee smokers Use other methods of extracting honey, which does not involve use of fire. Seek advice from the Forestry Commission.

Motorists Put off cigarette stubs and use ashtrays. Assist in fire fighting and always travel with a fire extinguisher. Service car electrical and mechanical systems to avoid sparks, which can cause veld fires.

Traditional leaders

Have firefighting teams to put off uncontrolled veld fires in your areas of jurisdiction.Carry out fire awareness campaigns throughout the fire season. Use cultural ways of punishing those who cause veld fires.

Rural District Councils Establish an environmental committee to oversee environmental issues and subcommittees, which are chaired by a councillor in a given ward or wards.Appoint an environmental monitor in the district in conjunction with Environmental Management Agency (EMA). Ensure that there are firefighting committees in these various wards.Report all veld fire incidences within seven working days to EMA or Zimbabwe Republic Police.

Did you Know?

DID YOU KNOW???

Rhinos are a critically endangered species. Although poached nearly to extinction, conservation efforts and habitat protection are starting to make a small difference towards the fate of these magnificent animals.

So help our Anti-Poaching efforts by reporting anyone of threat to the livelihood of this endangered species by contacting us :